PennWest Edinboro has received a $50,000 grant from the JCDRP Family Foundation, administered by Glenmede Trust Co., to support accessibility services and adaptive athletics for students with disabilities. The grant, facilitated by the Edinboro University Foundation, marks the eighth consecutive year of JCDRP support for programs at the Edinboro campus.

“This continued support allows us to remove barriers and expand opportunities for students to thrive academically and athletically,” said William Speed, head coach of the Fighting Scot Wheelchair Basketball Team. “The impact goes far beyond competition; it directly affects student confidence, independence and success.”

Grant funds have supported the purchase of specialized athletic wheelchairs and replacement parts, new athletic training equipment, and travel to national wheelchair basketball competitions. These resources enable student-athletes to compete safely and effectively against top-ranked programs, including Wisconsin–Whitewater, Alabama and Illinois.

PennWest Edinboro’s wheelchair basketball program is one of only a handful in the Northeast and attracts student-athletes from across the country seeking both academic opportunity and elite-level competition. Under Speed’s leadership, the team recently achieved a seventh-place national finish while fostering a culture that emphasizes achievement beyond the court.

In addition to athletics, the grant has enhanced services through the Office for Students with Disabilities, which supports hundreds of PennWest Edinboro students each year. In 2025, OSD upgraded its testing rooms with height-adjustable desks, noise-canceling devices, new call-box technology and other accessibility improvements designed to support diverse student needs.

Funding has also advanced the development of a digital test-scheduling system that will streamline the accommodation process for both students and faculty while maintaining academic integrity.

“PennWest Edinboro has a long history of innovation in serving students with disabilities,” said Adam Glass-Schwindt, assistant director for disability services. “This investment ensures that tradition continues and evolves to meet the needs of today’s students.”

The grant strengthens key programs, modernizes facilities and reinforces a campuswide culture of inclusion, ensuring all students have equitable access and are empowered to pursue their goals.